US7406926B2 - Bird feeder port - Google Patents

Bird feeder port Download PDF

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Publication number
US7406926B2
US7406926B2 US11/356,024 US35602406A US7406926B2 US 7406926 B2 US7406926 B2 US 7406926B2 US 35602406 A US35602406 A US 35602406A US 7406926 B2 US7406926 B2 US 7406926B2
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Prior art keywords
aperture
bird
bird feeder
seed
port according
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US11/356,024
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US20060180088A1 (en
Inventor
Robert Kenneth Nock
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CJ Wildbird Foods Ltd
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CJ Wildbird Foods Ltd
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Assigned to C J WILDBIRG FOODS LIMITED reassignment C J WILDBIRG FOODS LIMITED ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST (SEE DOCUMENT FOR DETAILS). Assignors: NOCK, ROBERT KENNETH
Assigned to C J WILDBIRD FOODS LIMITED reassignment C J WILDBIRD FOODS LIMITED RE-RECORD TO CORRECT THE EXECUTION DATE AND ASSIGNEE PREVIOUSLY RECORDED AT R/F 017498/0889 Assignors: NOCK, ROBERT KENNETH
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    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A01—AGRICULTURE; FORESTRY; ANIMAL HUSBANDRY; HUNTING; TRAPPING; FISHING
    • A01K—ANIMAL HUSBANDRY; CARE OF BIRDS, FISHES, INSECTS; FISHING; REARING OR BREEDING ANIMALS, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; NEW BREEDS OF ANIMALS
    • A01K39/00—Feeding or drinking appliances for poultry or other birds
    • A01K39/01—Feeding devices, e.g. chainfeeders
    • A01K39/012—Feeding devices, e.g. chainfeeders filling automatically, e.g. by gravity from a reserve

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to bird feeding equipment and in particular to a bird feeder port; either alone or as part of a bird feeder.
  • Bird feeders which store seed in a cylindrical vessel typically dispense seed through apertures in the wall. If a simple aperture is used it is typically circular in shape, having a diameter somewhat larger than the maximum seed dimension. Such feeders are typically used for dispensing fine seed; such as Nyjer seed to small birds. However, such feeders suffer the disadvantage that a significant proportion of the seed is wasted due to feed intermittently escaping through the aperture and falling to the ground where other animals can eat it.
  • a general solution to this problem is to use a seed port; this helps retain seed within the bird feeder body.
  • Ports typically comprise a member with an aperture and roof, but no floor, and are configured so that they may be inserted in alignment with a corresponding aperture in the wall of a bird feeder. However, such ports are generally ineffective in retaining fine sized bird seed, such as Nyjer seed.
  • the invention comprises a bird feeder port, for insertion through an exterior wall of a bird feeder, comprising a feed distributor with an open front portion accessible to a bird and having at least one of a roof portion, a wall portion and a lower portion; an aperture located in said lower portion, through which aperture bird seed is in use presented and can be eaten by a feeding bird; wherein the aperture is rectangular or elliptical in shape; and said aperture has a width in the range 5 to 13 mm.
  • the aperture in the lowermost part of the lower portion.
  • the aperture in the lowermost part of the floor portion Preferably the maximum width of the aperture is in the range 7 to 11 mm, and more preferably in the range 8 to 10 mm.
  • the aperture is a slot of length 10 to 30 mm, more preferably 12 to 25 mm and most preferably 12 to 20 mm.
  • the upper portion comprises at least a roof portion and a side wall portion and the aperture is located, at least in part, in said floor portion.
  • the feed distributor is formed, in at least part, from a cylinder.
  • the feed distributor may be formed, in at least part, from a frustroconical shell.
  • the aperture has an area between 20 mm 2 and 400 mm 2 .
  • the aperture is rectangular in shape.
  • the aperture may be circular or elliptical in shape and have a diameter or minor diameter in the range 5 to 13 mm.
  • the bird feeder port has a flange portion that in use is located adjacent the outer wall of a bird feeder.
  • the invention comprises a bird feeder having a main body in which birdfood may be stored, and a bird feeder port; said port comprising a feed distributor with an open front portion accessible to a bird and in addition having at least an upper portion and a lower portion; said lower portion having an aperture with a maximum width in the range 5 to 13 mm; through which aperture bird seed is in use presented and can be eaten by a feeding bird.
  • the bird feeder may comprise a main body in which birdfood may be stored, and a bird feeder port according to the invention as described above.
  • apertures of the above size prevent wastage of small sized bird seed such as Nyjer seed, by allowing free flow to but not through the aperture, if the aperture is located, at least in part, in the lower portion or floor of the distributor. Avoiding very narrow apertures is advantageous as it allows a feeding bird greater access to seed (see below) and also make the port less susceptible to blockage; for example, if the seed becomes damp. If the aperture is located in the floor of the distributor it has the further advantage of allowing a small bird to gain access to seed even when the a bird feeder is almost empty and the seed level has fallen to below the floor level of the distributor.
  • FIG. 1 shows a front view of a seed port according to the invention
  • FIG. 2 shows a rear view of the seed port of FIG. 1 ;
  • FIG. 3 shows a plan view of the port of FIG. 1 ;
  • FIG. 4 shows an underside view of the port of FIG. 1 ;
  • FIG. 5 shows a side view of the port of FIG. 1 ;
  • FIG. 6 is a sectioned side view along the lines A-A′ of FIG. 2 ;
  • FIG. 7 shows an underside view of a seed port according to a further embodiment of the invention.
  • the seed port 10 comprises a feed distributor 12 and a flange 14 .
  • Feed distributor 12 comprises a cylindrical portion 16 and a frustroconical portion 18 .
  • the floor 20 of cylindrical portion 16 has a slot or aperture 22 that may take the form of a rectangular slot preferably 5-13 mm wide and typically 10-30 mm long.
  • the cross sectional area of the slot or aperture is preferably between 20 mm 2 and 400 mm 2 ; more preferably between 100 mm 2 and 200 mm 2 ; and most preferably about 150 mm 2 . Slots of this size range, located in the lower portion or floor portion, prevents any appreciable loss of seed by free flow through the port when a bird is not feeding; such slots also present a small amount of seed on the floor portion from which a bird can feed.
  • aperture 22 may comprise a non-rectangular aperture; for example the aperture may present a circular or elliptical in shape area of seed to a bird.
  • Feed distributor 12 may have a non-circular cross section; for example it may have a square, rectangular, hexagonal or octagonal cross section. In any event it will have a lower portion or floor portion. In contrast, known ports typically have only a roof portion and sometimes side portions.
  • Flange 14 presents a circular orifice 24 via which, in use, a bird may access seed with its beak from the bird feeder.
  • the upper portion of flange 14 has a hood 26 that is positioned so that in use it shields the aperture against rainfall and thus helps keep bird feed dry.
  • the lower portion of flange 14 has a U-shaped recess 28 in each side. These recesses provide pivot means for a perch assembly (not shown). Between the recesses 28 there is an integral central portion 30 that has a raised front face 32 .
  • the bottom rear of the flange 14 also has a protruding notch 34 that, in use, locates a hole in the main body of the bird feeder, in order to prevent tilting movement of the port when inserted in the outer wall of a bird feeder body.
  • Frustroconical portion 18 has an aperture 36 of hexagonal cross section leading to a smaller cylindrically shaped aperture 38 .
  • the bolt would be sized to closely fit hexagonal aperture 36 and the diameter of cylindrical aperture 38 would be such that the thread but not the head of the bolt could pass therethrough.
  • a frustroconical portion 18 is preferred, other shapes are possible.
  • portion 18 could be replaced by a circular end wall located at the inner end of cylindrical portion 16 or could be hemispherical (or similarly) shaped.
  • apertures 36 and 38 are optional and would not be appropriate for use with bird feeders that did not employ diametrically adjacent ports.
  • FIG. 7 shows an underside view of a seed port according to a further embodiment of the invention where the slot 122 is elliptical in shape.

Abstract

A bird feeder port, especially suited for dispensing fine sized birdseed and configured for insertion through an exterior wall of a bird feeder; the port comprising a feed distributor with an open front portion accessible to a bird and in addition having at least an upper portion and a lower portion; said lower portion having an aperture in the lowermost floor portion through which bird seed is in use presented and can be eaten by a feeding bird. The aperture preferably comprises a slot and has a width of between 5 and 13 mm.

Description

BACKGROUND OF INVENTION
The present invention relates to bird feeding equipment and in particular to a bird feeder port; either alone or as part of a bird feeder.
Bird feeders which store seed in a cylindrical vessel typically dispense seed through apertures in the wall. If a simple aperture is used it is typically circular in shape, having a diameter somewhat larger than the maximum seed dimension. Such feeders are typically used for dispensing fine seed; such as Nyjer seed to small birds. However, such feeders suffer the disadvantage that a significant proportion of the seed is wasted due to feed intermittently escaping through the aperture and falling to the ground where other animals can eat it. A general solution to this problem is to use a seed port; this helps retain seed within the bird feeder body. Ports typically comprise a member with an aperture and roof, but no floor, and are configured so that they may be inserted in alignment with a corresponding aperture in the wall of a bird feeder. However, such ports are generally ineffective in retaining fine sized bird seed, such as Nyjer seed.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF INVENTION
It is an object of the present invention to provide an improved seed port for use with a bird feeder. Another object of the invention is to provide a seed port that is particularly suitable for dispensing small sized seed, such as Nyjer seed.
In one aspect the invention comprises a bird feeder port, for insertion through an exterior wall of a bird feeder, comprising a feed distributor with an open front portion accessible to a bird and having at least one of a roof portion, a wall portion and a lower portion; an aperture located in said lower portion, through which aperture bird seed is in use presented and can be eaten by a feeding bird; wherein the aperture is rectangular or elliptical in shape; and said aperture has a width in the range 5 to 13 mm. Preferably, the aperture in the lowermost part of the lower portion.
Preferably, the aperture in the lowermost part of the floor portion. Preferably the maximum width of the aperture is in the range 7 to 11 mm, and more preferably in the range 8 to 10 mm. Preferably the aperture is a slot of length 10 to 30 mm, more preferably 12 to 25 mm and most preferably 12 to 20 mm.
Preferably, the upper portion comprises at least a roof portion and a side wall portion and the aperture is located, at least in part, in said floor portion. Preferably, the feed distributor is formed, in at least part, from a cylinder. The feed distributor may be formed, in at least part, from a frustroconical shell.
Preferably, the aperture has an area between 20 mm2 and 400 mm2. Preferably, the aperture is rectangular in shape. The aperture may be circular or elliptical in shape and have a diameter or minor diameter in the range 5 to 13 mm. Preferably, the bird feeder port has a flange portion that in use is located adjacent the outer wall of a bird feeder.
In yet another aspect the invention comprises a bird feeder having a main body in which birdfood may be stored, and a bird feeder port; said port comprising a feed distributor with an open front portion accessible to a bird and in addition having at least an upper portion and a lower portion; said lower portion having an aperture with a maximum width in the range 5 to 13 mm; through which aperture bird seed is in use presented and can be eaten by a feeding bird. The bird feeder may comprise a main body in which birdfood may be stored, and a bird feeder port according to the invention as described above.
It has surprisingly been found during testing of various port configurations that apertures of the above size prevent wastage of small sized bird seed such as Nyjer seed, by allowing free flow to but not through the aperture, if the aperture is located, at least in part, in the lower portion or floor of the distributor. Avoiding very narrow apertures is advantageous as it allows a feeding bird greater access to seed (see below) and also make the port less susceptible to blockage; for example, if the seed becomes damp. If the aperture is located in the floor of the distributor it has the further advantage of allowing a small bird to gain access to seed even when the a bird feeder is almost empty and the seed level has fallen to below the floor level of the distributor.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS
The invention will now be described by reference to the following diagrammatic figures in which:
FIG. 1 shows a front view of a seed port according to the invention;
FIG. 2 shows a rear view of the seed port of FIG. 1;
FIG. 3 shows a plan view of the port of FIG. 1;
FIG. 4 shows an underside view of the port of FIG. 1;
FIG. 5 shows a side view of the port of FIG. 1;
FIG. 6 is a sectioned side view along the lines A-A′ of FIG. 2; and
FIG. 7 shows an underside view of a seed port according to a further embodiment of the invention.
 DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF INVENTION
A preferred embodiment will now be described by reference to FIGS. 1 to 6. The seed port 10 comprises a feed distributor 12 and a flange 14. Feed distributor 12 comprises a cylindrical portion 16 and a frustroconical portion 18. The floor 20 of cylindrical portion 16 has a slot or aperture 22 that may take the form of a rectangular slot preferably 5-13 mm wide and typically 10-30 mm long. The cross sectional area of the slot or aperture is preferably between 20 mm2 and 400 mm2; more preferably between 100 mm2 and 200 mm2; and most preferably about 150 mm2. Slots of this size range, located in the lower portion or floor portion, prevents any appreciable loss of seed by free flow through the port when a bird is not feeding; such slots also present a small amount of seed on the floor portion from which a bird can feed.
Alternatively, aperture 22 may comprise a non-rectangular aperture; for example the aperture may present a circular or elliptical in shape area of seed to a bird.
Feed distributor 12 may have a non-circular cross section; for example it may have a square, rectangular, hexagonal or octagonal cross section. In any event it will have a lower portion or floor portion. In contrast, known ports typically have only a roof portion and sometimes side portions.
Flange 14 presents a circular orifice 24 via which, in use, a bird may access seed with its beak from the bird feeder. The upper portion of flange 14 has a hood 26 that is positioned so that in use it shields the aperture against rainfall and thus helps keep bird feed dry. The lower portion of flange 14 has a U-shaped recess 28 in each side. These recesses provide pivot means for a perch assembly (not shown). Between the recesses 28 there is an integral central portion 30 that has a raised front face 32. The bottom rear of the flange 14 also has a protruding notch 34 that, in use, locates a hole in the main body of the bird feeder, in order to prevent tilting movement of the port when inserted in the outer wall of a bird feeder body.
Frustroconical portion 18 has an aperture 36 of hexagonal cross section leading to a smaller cylindrically shaped aperture 38. This allows two ports to be fixed back to back; fastened for example, by means of a nut and bolt. In this case the bolt would be sized to closely fit hexagonal aperture 36 and the diameter of cylindrical aperture 38 would be such that the thread but not the head of the bolt could pass therethrough. While a frustroconical portion 18 is preferred, other shapes are possible. For example; portion 18 could be replaced by a circular end wall located at the inner end of cylindrical portion 16 or could be hemispherical (or similarly) shaped. Further, apertures 36 and 38 are optional and would not be appropriate for use with bird feeders that did not employ diametrically adjacent ports.
FIG. 7 shows an underside view of a seed port according to a further embodiment of the invention where the slot 122 is elliptical in shape.

Claims (13)

1. A bird feeder port, for insertion through an exterior wall of a bird feeder for dispensing fine sized bird seed, comprising:
a feed distributor with an open front portion accessible to a bird and having at least one of a roof portion, a wall portion and a lower surface portion, said lower surface portion including a floor portion defining a lowermost surface of the feed distributor; and
an aperture located in said floor portion, wherein, in use, fine sized bird seed is presented and flows through said aperture in said lower surface portion so that bird seed can be eaten by a feeding bird;
wherein the aperture is rectangular or elliptical in shape; and
wherein said aperture has a width in the range 5 to 13 mm.
2. A bird feeder port according to claim 1 wherein the aperture is circular in shape.
3. A bird feeder port according to claim 1 wherein the aperture has a width in the range 7 to 11 mm.
4. A bird feeder port according to claim 1 wherein the aperture has a width in the range 8 to 10 mm.
5. A bird feeder port according to claim 1 wherein the aperture has a length in the range 10 to 30 mm.
6. A bird feeder port according to claim 1 wherein the aperture has a length in the range 12 to 25 mm.
7. A bird feeder port according to claim 1 wherein the aperture has a length in the range 12 to 20 mm.
8. A bird feeder port according to claim 1 wherein the aperture has an area between 20 mm2 and 400 mm2.
9. A bird feeder port according to claim 1 wherein the aperture has an area between 100 mm2 and 200 mm2.
10. A bird feeder port according to claim 1 wherein the feed distributor is formed, in at least part, from a cylinder.
11. A bird feeder port according to claim 1 wherein the feed distributor is formed, in at least part, from a frustroconical shell.
12. A bird feeder port according to claim 1 comprising a flange portion that in use is located adjacent the outer wall of a bird feeder.
13. A bird feeder comprising a main body, in which birdfood may be stored, and a port inserted through an exterior wall of said main body, said port further comprising a feed distributor with an open front portion accessible to a bird and having at least one of a roof portion, a wall portion and a lower body portion, said lower body portion including a floor portion defining a lowermost surface of the feed distributor; an aperture located in said floor portion, through which aperture bird seed is in use presented and can be eaten by a feeding bird; wherein the aperture is rectangular or elliptical in shape; and said aperture has a width in the range 5 to 13 mm.
US11/356,024 2005-02-17 2006-02-17 Bird feeder port Active US7406926B2 (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
GB0503260A GB2413473B (en) 2005-02-17 2005-02-17 Bird feeder port
GB0503260.2 2005-02-17

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US7406926B2 true US7406926B2 (en) 2008-08-05

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US (1) US7406926B2 (en)
EP (1) EP1692934B1 (en)
AT (1) ATE384434T1 (en)
CA (1) CA2536883A1 (en)
DE (1) DE602006000465T2 (en)
DK (1) DK1692934T3 (en)
GB (1) GB2413473B (en)

Families Citing this family (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US7610876B1 (en) 2008-06-06 2009-11-03 Raymond Charles Schulz Ergonomic bird feeder and assembly method
US8459206B1 (en) * 2008-06-20 2013-06-11 Aspects, Inc. Feed port for a bird feeder

Citations (8)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3568641A (en) 1969-03-03 1971-03-09 Peter Kilham Bird feeder
US4829934A (en) 1987-09-08 1989-05-16 Blasbalg Morton L Bird feeder
US5722334A (en) 1996-02-19 1998-03-03 Martin Gmbh Fur Umwelt- Und Energietechnik Fire grate, in particular for waste incinerators
US6408788B1 (en) 2001-04-06 2002-06-25 Cedar Works, Llc Bi-modal seed port for bird feeder
CA2410241A1 (en) 2002-01-08 2003-07-08 Cedar Works, Llc Bird feeder with squirrel proof seed port
GB2398719A (en) 2003-02-25 2004-09-01 Wildbird J C Foods Ltd Bird Feeder Perch Assembly
US6863024B1 (en) * 2004-02-04 2005-03-08 Cedar Works, Llc Convertible seed port for bird feeder
US7093561B2 (en) * 2004-07-20 2006-08-22 Woodstream Corporation Convertible feed port assembly for bird feeders

Family Cites Families (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US5722344A (en) * 1996-09-18 1998-03-03 Rank; Lawrence R. Bird feeder with dry seed storage

Patent Citations (9)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3568641A (en) 1969-03-03 1971-03-09 Peter Kilham Bird feeder
US4829934A (en) 1987-09-08 1989-05-16 Blasbalg Morton L Bird feeder
US5722334A (en) 1996-02-19 1998-03-03 Martin Gmbh Fur Umwelt- Und Energietechnik Fire grate, in particular for waste incinerators
US6408788B1 (en) 2001-04-06 2002-06-25 Cedar Works, Llc Bi-modal seed port for bird feeder
CA2410241A1 (en) 2002-01-08 2003-07-08 Cedar Works, Llc Bird feeder with squirrel proof seed port
US20040216684A1 (en) * 2002-01-08 2004-11-04 Obenshain James Roberts Bird feeder with squirrel proof seed port
GB2398719A (en) 2003-02-25 2004-09-01 Wildbird J C Foods Ltd Bird Feeder Perch Assembly
US6863024B1 (en) * 2004-02-04 2005-03-08 Cedar Works, Llc Convertible seed port for bird feeder
US7093561B2 (en) * 2004-07-20 2006-08-22 Woodstream Corporation Convertible feed port assembly for bird feeders

Non-Patent Citations (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Title
CJ Wildbird Foods, Handbook of Garden Wildlife 2004-2005, pp. 21-30 (Aug. 2004).

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
DK1692934T3 (en) 2008-05-26
GB2413473A (en) 2005-11-02
CA2536883A1 (en) 2006-08-17
GB0503260D0 (en) 2005-03-23
US20060180088A1 (en) 2006-08-17
ATE384434T1 (en) 2008-02-15
EP1692934B1 (en) 2008-01-23
GB2413473B (en) 2006-05-10
DE602006000465T2 (en) 2009-01-22
DE602006000465D1 (en) 2008-03-13
EP1692934A1 (en) 2006-08-23

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